Walmart announced it has hired 130,828 veterans since it announced its "Veterans Welcome Home Commitment" in May 2013, including 3,908 in Alabama.

Of those 130,828 veteran hires, 15,176 have been promoted to jobs with higher pay and greater responsibility, including 412 in Alabama.

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John Mark Hunter, who was discharged from the U.S. Marines in October and began work in March as an overnight stocker at the Walmart Supercenter in Gardendale, said, "I heard about Walmart being veterans-friendly, and when I sent out applications, Walmart was the first to get back to me."

On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart introduced the "Veterans Welcome Home Commitment", which guaranteed a job offer to any eligible, honorably discharged U.S. veteran who was within 12 months of active duty.

The initial goal was to hire 100,000 veterans by the end of 2018.

In May of 2015, Walmart announced the expansion of that original projection, with the goal of hiring 250,000 veterans by the end of 2020.

Walmart has also changed the eligibility from within 12 months of active duty, to any veteran who has been honorably discharged since the announcement of the commitment in May 2013.

"As a veteran, I know how critical it is for our men and women in uniform to have a strong support structure when transitioning back to civilian life," said retired Brig. Gen. Gary Profit, senior director of military programs for Walmart. "A job is an important part of that transition, and at Walmart, we're proud to use our strengths as one of the nation's largest employers to be a part of that bridge back home by providing meaningful opportunities to 3,900 veterans in Alabama to use their unique talent and skills".

Beyond Walmart's veterans hiring program, the Walmart Foundation is also reinforcing its support for transitioning military members and their families with the announcement of $2.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that support veteran reintegration.